A second bout of substantial snow or sleet is expected to move across the UK from Thursday night, as two stubborn weather fronts refuse to give ground.

A fresh band of rain from the Atlantic is expected to turn to snow on high ground in the north-west initially, and 3-6cms is expected in the Midlands and East Anglia on Friday, with sleet to the north and south.

Temperatures falling as low as -10C for a third night running have left icy ground conditions across England east of the Pennines, where level-three warnings of black ice on roads remain in force.

The government appealed for communities to watch out for vulnerable neighbours after two people caught out in sub-zero temperatures were found dead.

Chill easterlies have established a stronger hold than expected along the entire North Sea coast and as far as the Pennines, Birmingham, Oxford and Hampshire. Longer-range forecasts predict milder and unsettled weather gaining the upper hand from next week and to the end of February.

The Meteorological Office warns that high winds rather than low temperatures are likely to be a hazard going into March, the month traditionally said to come in like a roaring lion and go out like a little lamb.

The 30-day forecast says: "The period looks to be dominated by changeable, often unsettled weather, primarily moving in from the west. This means a risk of heavy rain and strong winds at times, and by the end of the period rainfall totals, especially across southern areas, could be above average."

Snow fell in western Scotland on Wednesday and began a push south towards Northumberland and Cumbria. Victoria Kettley, a forecaster with MeteoGroup, said its progress could be variable further south, depending on the relative strength of the easterly chill.

"There could be rain, sleet and snow on high ground as the leading edge of the front pushes through, as well as the risk of freezing rain. Some weather models are showing significant snow for the Midlands of up to 6cm on Friday, but it is uncertain more widely if the precipitation the front is bringing will fall as rain, sleet, or snow."

Dry, bright but cold weather dominated in England and Wales on Wednesday, with cloudier conditions in Scotland and northern Ireland. Temperatures struggled to top 3C and forecasters do not expect better on Thursday.

A homeless man in his 40s was found dead in the porch of St Luke's church in Cambridge, close to a hostel where staff said room would have been available had anyone known. In Hull, a man believed to be in his 50s was found dead in a park after overnight temperatures of -7C.

Snow saved a cyclist from serious injury when he was caught by a rope strung across an offroad track at Hamsterley, County Durham. Police are investigating the incident, which left Lukasz Sikorski, 29, with bruises and a rope-burn.

Tributes have been paid to a well-known cheesemaker and a schoolboy who died during the cold spell, although the weather has not been confirmed as the cause. Mandy Reed, 47, whose Swaledale cheese has won many awards, was found dead in a neighbour's garden near Richmond, North Yorkshire, after returning late from a family do. In Castleford, West Yorkshire, 10-year-old Joshua Houlgate collapsed and died while playing in the snow.

Gary Verity, chair of Welcome to Yorkshire, the regional tourist board, said of Reed: "She was a familiar sight at Leyburn market on a Friday, and was known as the cheese lady. She will be sadly missed." Julie Murray, headteacher at Smawthorne Henry Moore primary school, in Castleford, said Joshua, who had suffered epilepsy when younger, "held a very special place in our hearts. He was a much-loved pupil who was well liked by his friends and all the staff at school."

Southern Trains apologised to 30 passengers who were forced to break out of Streatham Hill station in freezing conditions after agency staff left and locked up before the last service from central London arrived late. Passengers filmed the scene on mobile phones as they squeezed through a window at 1.30am.